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Rotavirus infection in Hong Kong: epidemiology and estimates of disease burden

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1998

P. K. S. CHAN
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
J. S. TAM
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
E. A. S. NELSON
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
K. S. C. FUNG
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
F. A. B. ADEYEMI-DORO
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
T. F. FOK
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
A. F. CHENG
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
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Abstract

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Rotavirus gastroenteritis should soon be a vaccine-preventable disease. In a 10-year survey of rotavirus gastroenteritis conducted at the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH), 2281 cases were detected of which 2213 (97%) occurred in children <5 years old. A consistent epidemic occurred each winter during the months of December and January. Of all laboratory-confirmed cases, 78% were community-acquired with a mean hospital stay of 4·7 days. The estimated incidence of rotavirus-attributed hospitalization was 2/1000 children <5 years old. Over the 10 years, rotavirus was responsible for one death, and contributory to three other deaths. On average each year, 195 children <5 years old were hospitalized for a total of 917 days in PWH, accounting for an estimated expenditure of HK$2·8 (∼US$0·4) million on hospitalization costs. The annual financial burden for rotavirus gastroenteritis for the whole of Hong Kong could be in excess of HK$9·6 (∼US$1·2) million.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1998 Cambridge University Press